It’s midway through the week and your brain is probably going full tilt with work-related junk, so here’s a roundup of a few random bike products in easily digestible, short chunks that you can quickly absorb on your lunch break…or when the boss looks busy hounding the office laggard into action.
Slime has just announced they’ve released 27.5” sizes for their self-sealing inner tubes, All Mountain Style plays to your animal instincts with some cool new patterns for their PVC frame guards, and Delta Cycle has crafted a simple but clever floor rack that can be daisy-chained for storing multiple bikes in a shop showroom or your home garage. Boss still busy? Click below the break for all the details…
For riders who are still running tubes in their all-mountain bikes Slime has recently released their self-sealing tubes in the new standard 27.5”/650B wheel size. The tubes will cover tire widths between 2.0-2.4”, and it appears that only presta valves are available. Slime’s pre-gooped tubes should work for up to two years and can seal multiple punctures in the tread zone up to 1/8” (3mm) in diameter. The sealant is non-toxic and non-flammable, and cleans up with water. While there’s no weight listed, I’d expect a bit of a penalty over a traditional tube.
Installation is identical to a normal tube, but to prevent the valve from getting gummed up with sealant Slime recommends rotating the tire so the valve is on the upper half of the wheel before inflating. There are no special instructions to spin the inflated tire, just pump it up and go.
Slime notes that riders may have to re-inflate a flattened tire and rotate it to bring the sealant over the puncture. Also, the tubes are not guaranteed to seal sidewall punctures, pinch flats, slashes caused by sharp objects or holes larger than 1/8”. For more info, check out Slime’s website to find a dealer near you.
All Mountain Style’s PVC frame guards are now available in Cheetah and Zebra patterns, so riders can choose the ‘predator’ look to chase down their friends, or be chased as their ‘prey’ if you prefer to lead the group. The guards come with transparent or translucent grey backgrounds so your bike’s frame color shows through between the spots or stripes.
AMS says their durable, high-impact honeycomb-textured PVC will outlast your frame and won’t turn yellow over time. The guards are ideal for protecting the underside of down tubes or to protect top tubes from cables or leg armour rub.
The adhesive guards are simple to install, and can be re-positioned if you don’t lay it down perfectly on first contact. The package contains one full sized guard plus five arrow shaped pieces, and three circle pieces. The cut-outs can either go under the main guard for added protection or used elsewhere on your frame.
AMS’ Honeycomb Frame Guards come in one standard size which should fit nearly any bike and will conform to curvy tubing. The guards can be purchased online for €24.90 ($27 USD), with free worldwide shipping. If you’re thinking “I am not an animal!” they’re also available in camo print and opaque magenta colors.
If you’re like me, you have a bike or two in your living room at all times (and you’re quite happy about it!). While I love having my steeds safely indoors and proudly on display I don’t have any floor racks, so my bikes just lean against the wall and I try not to knock them over. Delta has crafted a simple but highly adaptable floor rack that’s actually aimed at bike shops, but I think would be just as ideal for home use too. Their new Shop Racks hold one bike apiece, but can be linked together for retail applications (or to store your personal quiver).
The simple looking Shop Racks cradle the bike’s front wheel, and can be adjusted to fit any tire diameter or width right up to 5” fat bike balloons. Delta says their design makes it easy for customers to pull bikes out for a touch and feel shopping experience. The racks feature wide bases with rubberized non-slip feet, and triangulated arms that securely hold the wheel in place. The overall dimensions are 22”x15”x17”, but the weight is not listed. Delta Cycle’s Shop Rack comes in silver, and sells for $34.99 USD.
